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Giant Bomb #9 | More Dan Meets The Eye
- Thread starter Hot Coldman
- Start date
- Status
The Dear Leader
Banned
I think I like Dan more as a video personality than I do as a games journalist, he's great in GB videos, but I seldom agree with his opinions on games, he just seems ill informed on a lot of stuff pertaining to his job as a games journalist, just my opinion, don't kill me please.
Fallout-NL
Member
A Quicklook like this one really makes me wonder why they hired Dan in the first place. I'm sure he's a nice guy and all, but what he brings to the table in terms of discussion is extremely lacking. For every 5 classic games that get mentioned on the podcast he hasn't heard of 4 of them and he offers little explanation for what he does and doesn't like. Furthermore, he's way too proud of the ignorant and close minded character he seems to be portraying. That attitude is counter to all the stuff that makes a podcast worth listening to. Makes me wish Vinny and Patrick were back on the show.
Basileus777
Member
Dan's been the most entertaining thing about GB since they hired him, there's no reason to second guess why they hired him.
It's almost as if people have both good points and bad points to them.
Because he's funny and a well-rounded gaming palate is not, and has never been, what GB is about?
Some of these criticisms make me wonder if I've been visiting a different GB all these years.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
This seems pretty weird considering 3 of the 4 quick looks this week features Jeff complaining about the game while Dan complained about one of them.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
It a way, it's like when a band or a long running TV show changes a few of its members and the product is slightly different. I know I feel the same way, but like someone else said, that's just fine. I assume in ten years or so, when the older members of the crew move on to better paying jobs/industry jobs/management/whatever, there will be a whole new group of people at GB/GS that newer fans will love and other fans won't.Valtýr;130077044 said:
Yeah, I must be doing the same. I have no idea who this "Jeff" is that never complains and is always objective and fair.
I'm still on SeaSerpent.
He was always the funniest and most energetic guy at Gameinformer.
It's just that at GI they understood that he was the idiot of the group, his enthusiasm is very valuable but they understood that he had really terrible opinions about most things.
At GB I feel they've not reached that point yet where they feel comfortable just saying STFU Donny, but that should come soon enough.
Don't get me wrong, Jeff is still Jeff. The only difference is that he doesn't try to drag down the whole Quicklook whining.
T
thepotatoman
Unconfirmed Member
Well, he is the new guy. Wouldn't be too surprising if he picked up Jeff's actions over the last week as something the site's fans were looking for. Jeff has been unusually negative this last week, even for him.
Hyrule Warrior
Member
Valtýr;130077044 said:
Yeah, I was finding at first I thought "Well maybe this new hire isn't so bad, maybe he'll fit right in at giantbomb". I appreciate the ideas he's been bringing to the table, like the Mario Party stuff, and convincing Drew to play Metal Gear Solid (at first...but after seeing Drew so frustrated, i dunno if I like seeing him slowly start to hate it). I appreciated that Dan seemed to love one of my all time favorite series like Metal Gear, and has an appreciate for Nintendo games which most of the giantbomb crew seemed to lack.
However, then there are the times where he just sounds like a complete ignoramus. There's being naive, and pretending to be stupid, but some of the things that come out of Dan's mouth just make me roll my eyes, and illustrates what I hate about the typical ignorant selfish American. Hard to explain, because I'm having trouble thinking of specific situations at the moment, but he just really sounds like he needs to grow up already.
Dan has been mr positivity for nearly every game they've looked at. Calling him someone who complains too much doesn't seem accurate to me.
That's a bit strong dude.
I think maybe you're the one who needs to grow up?
Hyrule Warrior
Member
I feel like I should've added "that you see shopping in Wal-Mart" to that sentence. I'm sorry, I did not mean it to sound as strong as it did, nor did I mean it to sound anti-american, but if you live here, you got to admit when you go some places that are low brow...like a wal-mart, you run into really stupid people like that, and it just makes me blood boil.
Maybe you should stop worrying about everyone else and work on your anger issues.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
To be fair Dan is so american that he has american flag sunglasses
Dan says dumb shit, but he's never mean spirited in the way you're insinuating. That's on you.I feel like I should've added "that you see shopping in Wal-Mart" to that sentence. I'm sorry, I did not mean it to sound as strong as it did, nor did I mean it to sound anti-american, but if you live here, you got to admit when you go some places that are low brow...like a wal-mart, you run into really stupid people like that, and it just makes me blood boil.
Fallout-NL
Member
I think no one here's actively attempting to level criticism at Dan's person, merely his creative output.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
I dunno, he's been nearly singlehandedly responsible for quite a few great premium content now, whereas before they were getting a bit insipid. Though to be fair that was also partly because they waiting for the new hires and preparing vinny moving out.
Oh, you're referring to the fact that he single-handedly saved GB West's video output? Yeah, that was pretty amazing.
Fallout-NL
Member
I come to the site mainly for the podcast, the quicklooks and the odd written review. Due to technical difficulties I can't sign up for premium videos so I can't comment on those. However, it would have to be markedly different from his contributions in the regular stuff if it were to sway my opinion.
Unlike some of you (not judging!) I actually do visit GB for (at least semi) thoughtful criticism of the videogame medium - yes spiced up with some humor here and there, nothing wrong with that - but if it's just clowning around it has less value to me.
And to be clear, I'm not seeing his addition to the team as the worst thing ever, that would be ridiculous. Just wanted to voice some discontent with what he's mostly contributing as of now (in the content I mentioned).
Unlike some of you (not judging!) I actually do visit GB for (at least semi) thoughtful criticism of the videogame medium - yes spiced up with some humor here and there, nothing wrong with that - but if it's just clowning around it has less value to me.
And to be clear, I'm not seeing his addition to the team as the worst thing ever, that would be ridiculous. Just wanted to voice some discontent with what he's mostly contributing as of now (in the content I mentioned).
I miss those guys.
dan is the best thing to happen to GB since Vinny and Brad joined. he's funny and cool and puts out great videos. I was more worried about GB's video output when vinny left, since I didn't think they'd be able to fill that void.
I like you daydreaming, especially your new avatar. But sadly I'd say that GB West video output nowadays is more of quantity than quality though. I find myself skipping and stopping videos and podcast halfway more often than usual.
And if there's significant number of users feel weird about new content, and how Dan presents himself, while I don't think it's necessary for Dan to change his approach, it won't do any harm for GB to listen and consider what kind of approach they want.
Sadly I'm one of those users who decided maybe it's time to move away from GB's content for a time being. Maybe 3 - 6 months, or 1 - 2 years, till they have content that can grab me.
Do tell me if you guys wanna chip in money to buy things for Rorie again though.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
That's fair enough. If you don't have a premium it's more of the same, though for awhile there him coming onto the crew seriously spiked up the number of quick looks. But your comment made me look through the quick look archive from when he came on and I honestly can't say that there's really been much clowning around really.
He tends to take it about as seriously as the rest of the crew, who already don't really take it all that seriously. His biggest clowning moment is probably the velvet sundown video and the don bradman cricket quick look.
Twin Tails
Member
ended up watching this again cause why not. nachoboss
It's a shame to hear that you don't enjoy the new Premium content, sub, and I certainly don't blame anyone that feels the same way. I know I get defensive sometimes (or maybe every time
) GB lands on the chopping block but I try to never make it about other people disliking the content but rather about *the tone* they employ to voice their dissatisfaction, and if they're being fair, etc. I definitely don't mean to lump together everyone who's not happy with GB's recent output.So I'm absolutely with you, if you're not enjoying their content then there's no reason to keep watching. GB (and its fans) have gone through a lot and I think we'd all bring back the Whiskey Media days if we could. Sadly, that's not possible and change was inevitable, regardless. And change is always bittersweet. Who knows when I will end up in the same position you are in right now, it wouldn't take much. I can't guarantee that it wouldn't have happened by now if Dan hadn't stepped in.. But ok, don't wanna get too mawkish, haha.
So I hope taking a break leads to good things for you, sub. Absence makes the heart
funkystudent
Member
ended up watching this again cause why not. nachoboss
HooFlungPoo459 is a heck of a gamertag
I don't think it is.
He's not only willfully ignorant - He is excited and proud of being willfully ignorant.
Yeah, based on the QL, I can imagine enemies feeling like bullet sponges. I think I read something about a mode that decreases enemy HP, though? I might be misremembering.
Come on... Out of all the people on the crew, Dan is the one that asks the most questions, and shows the most outward enthusiasm in learning new things. Being self-aware, not having a huge comfort zone, and taking it as a given that his experiences/opinions aren't universal are not the same as being proudly or willfully ignorant.
Not being a fan of Dan's antics is fine, but seriously, it's a little bizarre to see a fair number of people in this thread basically debating his quality as a human being. "Sometimes I question if I want to watch a QL" are not high enough stakes to get that negative/personal about someone.
Messofanego
Banned
It's not like he's admitted to it or anything (2:03:41)
Brad: You're saying ignorance is bliss?
Dan Ryckert: Yes! That's the whole point of life! The less shit you know, the happier you are. I'm smart enough to know how stupid I am. And I know I love it this way.
Dan Ryckert: Yes! That's the whole point of life! The less shit you know, the happier you are. I'm smart enough to know how stupid I am. And I know I love it this way.
I think you're overreacting to that comment, personally. The site is personality driven and if someone's personality doesn't jive with you it's perfectly normal to not want to watch content they're involved in. I don't dislike the guy or anything or have anything against him and it's not that serious in the end.
Jimmyfenix
Member
If you don't like Vinny then i can't be friends with you.
bigwinnerx
Member
Jesus you people are dramatic.
CambriaRising
Member
He's comfortable in his own skin, better break him down, STAT.
"you people?"
This is somewhat true for me.
I found that Dan uses the word "crap" in the place of "stuff" or "thing". Once that clicked, my perception of his criticisms/complaints were softened. I was wondering why he called everything "Crap" but when he used that to describe things he likes as well...it made sense.
bigwinnerx
Member
The question mark goes outside the quotation.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
#notallbombers
It's not like he's admitted to it or anything (2:03:41)
Brad: You're saying ignorance is bliss?
Dan Ryckert: Yes! That's the whole point of life! The less shit you know, the happier you are. I'm smart enough to know how stupid I am. And I know I love it this way.
Hahaha. I know he's said this kind of thing before, along with numerous other absolutist, abrasive declarations. But I don't take it seriously. In my mind, 90% of it comes from him being self-aware, and acting with the assumption that it's a given his personal inclinations are going to strike other people as unusual.
You have to put it in context, too. How many other times has he said he's eager to learn, and how many questions does he ask about basic things most people take for granted? I don't think it's right to call him "proudly ignorant." It's both more accurate and more respectful to just call him "proudly himself." (I might have gotten this line from Metal Gear Solid.)
Valtýr;130086659 said:
Well, yeah, that's my point exactly. Calling him an ignoramus, claiming he's representative of the "typical ignorant selfish American," etc. just seems completely unnecessary, precisely because it's not that serious.
Being reluctant to watch content he's involved with is perfectly fine. I was just conflating that comment with the anti-Dan stuff I've seen in this thread, as it illustrates pretty well what's at stake here: missing the occasional GB video, i.e., not much. I wasn't reacting to it specifically.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Now onto another giantbomb topic...
This is pretty cool.
This is pretty cool.
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